ANNUAL REPORT of the
CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
2010-2011
Department of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University
http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/index.html
Dr. Ronald C. Ydenberg, Director
CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. HISTORY ..................................................................................................................................3
II. MISSION STATEMENT ............................................................................................................3
III. PERSONNEL...........................................................................................................................4
A. RESEARCH TEAM .................................................................................................................4
1. Faculty and Research Associates ..................................................................................4
2. Research Group.............................................................................................................4
B. STEERING COMMITTEE ........................................................................................................5
IV. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................6
V. THE CWE IN ACTION ........................................................................................................6
A. THE TRIANGLE ISLAND SEABIRD RESEARCH STATION .......................................................6
B. INTEGRATED SHOREBIRD RESEARCH ..................................................................................7
C. THE MARBLED MURRELET PROJECT ...................................................................................9
D. SEA DUCK ECOLOGY .........................................................................................................10
E. ECOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGY .................................................................................................12
F. POPULATION ECOLOGY OF LANDBIRDS ..............................................................................13
VI FUNDING ..............................................................................................................................16
VII. PUBLICATIONS ...................................................................................................................21
A. Papers in Refereed Journals or Books ...........................................................................21
B. Other Publications..........................................................................................................24
C. Theses ............................................................................................................................25
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ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
I. HISTORY
Under the Migratory Birds Convention and Canada Wildlife Acts, the mandate of the Canadian
Wildlife Service is to protect and conserve migratory bird populations. In the 21st century, this
historical mandate is broadening to encompass other environmental concerns such as species at
risk, biodiversity, sustainability and endangered habitats. To meet these broad and varied
responsibilities, Environment Canada depends on sound science, and participates in cooperative
ventures. In 1993, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Simon
Fraser University, and Environment Canada signed a ten year agreement to create the
NSERC/CWS Chair in Wildlife Ecology at SFU. The Centre for Wildlife Ecology (CWE)
described here is a revised administrative structure based on the Chair, formed after the retirement in 2002 of the original chairholder, Professor Fred Cooke.
II. MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Centre for Wildlife Ecology (CWE) is to foster high quality graduate training
and research, conduct basic and applied research in wildlife ecology, and to provide knowledge
and personnel that will help Environment Canada and other agencies meet the challenges of
conservation in the 21st century. The central concept is to foster synergy between the missionoriented research and management policies of Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service,
CWS, and Science and Technology, S&T) and the basic research agenda of the University.
Information, ideas, expertise, resources and opportunity flow back and forth across this interface,
giving government agencies access to a broad base of science capability that helps inform policy
and decision making, while the university and its faculty and students benefit from enhanced
opportunities for research and application of the ideas their disciplines generate.
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III. PERSONNEL
A. Research Team
1. Faculty and Research Associates
Name
Position
Ron Ydenberg
Tony Williams
David Green
Dov Lank
Dan Esler
Mark Hipfner
Doug Bertram
Christine Bishop
Sean Boyd
Rob Butler
Bob Elner
John Elliott
Barry Smith
Fred Cooke (retired)
Director, Professor
Professor
Associate Director, Associate Professor
University Research Associate / Adjunct Professor
University Research Associate / Adjunct Professor
EC Research Scientist / Adjunct Professor
EC Research Scientist
EC Research Scientist / Adjunct Professor
EC Research Scientist / Adjunct Professor
EC Research Scientist Emeritus / Adjunct Professor
EC Research Scientist Emeritus/Adjunct Professor
EC Research Scientist / Adjunct Professor
EC Wildlife Research Head / Adjunct Professor
Emeritus Chairholder
2. Research Group
Postdoctoral
Fellow
PhD (in progress)
MSc (in progress)
Staff
Eric Anderson
Glenn Crossin
WhoSeung Lee
Anna Drake
Margaret Eng
Philina English
Lindsay Farrell
Samantha Franks
Raime Fronstin
Kristen Gorman
Ariam Jiménez
Holly Middleton
Heidi Scherr
Birgit Schwarz
Emily Whattam
Marie-Hélène Burle
Lana Cortese (REM)
Mikaela Davis
Rian Dickson
Willow English
Martha Fronstin
Rachel Gardiner
Nathan Hentze
Danica Hogan
Viktoria Khamzina, MET
Elly Knight
Michaela Martin
Eric Palm
Calen Ryan
Sarah Thomsen
Brian Uher-Koch
Corey VanStratt
Dominique Wagner
Monica Court, CWE Admin. Asst.
Connie Smith, CWE Research Tech
Jenn Barrett, MAMU/Sea Duck Tech
PhD( defended)
MSc (defended)
Heather Major
Christine Rock
Visitors
Pat Baird
Diane Tracy
Lysanne Snijders
Pieter van Veelen
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ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
B. Steering Committee
Name
Position
Affiliation
Elizabeth Elle
Arne Mooers
Robert Elner
David Green
Paul Kluckner
Barry Smith
Tony Williams
Ron Ydenberg
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Emeritus Scientist
CWE faculty (non-voting)
Regional Director, ECB PYR
Wildlife Research, Head
CWE faculty (non-voting)
CWE Director (non-voting)
SFU
SFU
EC
SFU
EC
EC
SFU
SFU
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IV. INTRODUCTION
The aim of this Annual Report is to give an overview of our activities, outline the progress on
new and continuing projects, describe the personnel involved, and to give some indication of our
scientific and community involvement. Previous Annual Reports are available from the CWE.
Contact us via our website
http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/index.html
or contact Ron Ydenberg at ydenberg@sfu.ca.
V. THE CWE IN ACTION
The accounts that follow give brief overviews of the major projects run by the CWE. More detail
is available on our website (http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg). Publications and theses are
listed at the end of this report. The personnel also can be contacted via the website.
A. The Triangle Island Seabird Research Station
Coastal British Columbia supports large populations of many species of seabirds, for which the
Pacific and Yukon Region of the Canadian Wildlife Service has stewardship responsibility. The
Triangle Island Seabird Research and Monitoring Station was established in 1994 as a centre for
research devoted to understanding seabird biology, aimed particularly at identifying and
understanding environmental and demographic causes of population change so as to recommend
appropriate conservation actions. The Anne Vallée Ecological Reserve on Triangle Island
supports the largest and most diverse seabird colony in BC, including the world’s largest
population of Cassin’s Auklets, BC’s largest populations of Tufted Puffins and Common Murres,
and a large population of Rhinoceros Auklets, among others. As part of the Scott Island Group,
Triangle Island is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Moreover, waters around the
Scott Islands are being developed as a Marine Wildlife Area (MWA) under the Canada Wildlife
Act, to protect critical habitat for the millions of seabirds that depend on these waters through the
year.
Our ongoing investigations examine breeding propensity and chronology, reproductive performance, nestling diet and development, parental foraging and provisioning patterns, attendance
patterns, and adult survival, among other topics. Of particular interest is the issue of how
climate-induced fluctuations in the timing and availability of marine prey populations affect
seabird reproduction and survival.
The 2010 season: We opened our research station on Triangle Island for year 17 on 05 May
2010, with continued logistical support from the Canadian Coast Guard. Scientific research was
conducted under the direction of Mark Hipfner, while Kristin Charleton, Glenn Crossin and Mark
led the field crew at various times in the summer. We maintained our time series focus on
Cassin’s Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Tufted Puffin, Common Murre, Pelagic Cormorants,
Glaucous-winged Gulls and Black Oystercatchers.
The 2010 breeding season followed another severe El Nino event over winter 2009-2010 and this
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had dramatic consequences for seabirds’ phenology (very late) and breeding success (extremely
poor- the worst in the time series for Cassin’s Auklets). And Common Murres had another
difficult season, facing harassment and predation by Bald Eagles and Glaucous-winged Gulls.
In addition, in 2010 we completed the third year of a project to band Rhinoceros Auklets at the
large colonies at Pine Island (central coast) and Lucy Island (north coast). We also banded on
SGang Gwayy, in Haida Gwaii in 2010. We plan to continue this project for several more years,
in order to (1) obtain estimates of adult survival rates at these important colonies to enable us to
assess the potential effects of mortality in gill-net fisheries on local Rhinoceros Auklet populations, (2) to quantify the extent of population genetic structuring in Rhinoceros Auklet colonies in
BC and elsewhere, so as to identify management units for conservation; (3) to quantify geographic and intercolony variation in this species' diet and productivity, and (4) to quantify
geographic and interannual variation in diets of Pacific sandlance, a key prey species for
Rhinoceros Auklets at all BC colonies.
B. Integrated Shorebird Research
Populations of many species of shorebirds travel half the globe in the course of their annual
migrations. Great concern has been raised about apparent population declines of many species
over the past two decades. The CWE is studying small calidrid sandpipers - Western and Least
sandpipers, and Dunlin - to better understand the causes of these apparent declines.
The majority of the world’s 3.5 – 4.0 million Western Sandpipers stop briefly to refuel in
Boundary Bay or on Robert’s Bank during their annual northward migration, providing a thrilling
sight for local residents. Much of the species’ population also stops over on southward migration, following a flight over the Gulf of Alaska. Because of this, the species is ranked in the
highest priority class in the draft BC-Yukon region CWS Shorebird Management Plan. Each
winter, the Fraser River Delta (FRD) hosts the most northerly wintering population of Pacific
Dunlin – some 30,000-50,000. Local information on shorebird habitat usage, including western
sandpipers and dunlin, contributed towards Environment Canada’s submission in response to
proposals to enlarge the Coal Port facility on Robert’s Bank, and will be of substantial value with
respect to environmental assessment as port operations continue and planning for the next phase
of port expansion continues.
Since its inception in 1993, the CWE has nurtured the development of the Western Sandpiper
Research Network, including current CWE staff Ron Ydenberg, Dov Lank, and Tony Williams,
EC’s Barry Smith, and recent retirees Bob Elner and Rob Butler, as a platform for research on a
hemispheric scale that can address migratory bird issues. The CWE maintains substantial science
capacity for this group of birds in the Pacific region. Our multifaceted research is documenting
and modeling the factors controlling the population size, migratory routes and timing, ecological
relationships with predators and prey, habitat use, and physiological ecology of this long-distance
Neotropical migrant. We have pursued and aided fieldwork at three breeding sites, several
migration locations, and five wintering sites. We have organized eleven workshops to help keep
researchers in touch, and we run a list-server for this purpose.
Our integrated approach allows us to examine how factors at one location affect events at
another. How do events in the wintering grounds, migration sites, and breeding grounds
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interconnect? Where are population bottlenecks? How do changes in environmental danger and
food availability affect migration and stopover strategies? Of direct conservation concern is the
consequence of the removal or deterioration of one or more locations on survival and reproduction. As a result of our work, the Western Sandpiper now ranks with the best-studied shorebirds
in the Western Hemisphere.
Highlights from the past year:
Initial organization for the 4th Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group Meeting: Lank and
Ydenberg agreed to organize the 4th biennial meeting of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird
Group meeting, to be held at SFU in August 2011. They raised ca. $66,900 in sponsorship
funding, including Environment Canada, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest
Service, the US Geological Survey, the Pacific Wildlife Foundation, and SFU. Much of this is
intended to provide travel awards to enable Latin American students to attend the meeting.
Migratory Connectivity Project: The Western Sandpiper migratory connectivity project is
designed to develop the use of intrinsic markers – information present in the body of the bird – as
tools for establishing the connections among the suite of sites utilized by migrants. This
international project involves Environment Canada as a partner, plus faculty from UBC (Darrin
Irwin), Queen’s (Kurt Kyser) and Guelph (D Ryan Norris), three universities in Mexico, Kansas
State University, and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, with additional cooperators in Alaska,
Russia, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, Panama and Ecuador. Samples were
analyzed for stable isotope signatures and genetic composition. We have data on birds’ morphology from all sites, and are creating statistical methods that combine information from multiple
sources produce probabilistic population assignments. PhD student Samantha Franks took
responsibility for a portion of the migratory connectivity project, including sample collection and
stable isotope analyses of western sandpiper feathers collected throughout their annual cycle.
Birgit Schwarz, a second PhD student supported by German graduate fellowships, took responsibility for blood sample collection and genetic analyses, working with Dr. Darren Irwin, at UBC.
These students also again organized fieldwork in the FRD during both northward and southward
migration, collecting data for the migratory connectivity project.
Direct evidence of migratory connectivity comes from radio-tracking studies. Research
Collaborator Pat Baird completed her final report to the US Department of Defense on her
multinational study of western sandpipers as a model for neotropical migration. We continue to
collaborate with other researchers at SFU, Panama Audubon, and the Universidad Nacional
Autonoma de Mexico.
Fraser River Delta issues: MSc student David Hope submitted one chapter from his MSc thesis
addressing migration strategies of Western Sandpipers through the Fraser River Delta with
respect to changing schedules of predation risk. PhD student Ariam Jiménez continued detailed
work with sandpiper usage of biofilm on Robert’s Bank, guided by EC-CWS’s Bob Elner and
CWE’s Ydenberg, and contrasted finding here with those on the wintering grounds in Cuba. His
work includes on-the-ground and remote sensing, and direct observation and “poop counts” as
indirect indices of habitat usage. MSc student Rachel Gardiner wrote up her work on Least
Sandpipers, the third common local migrant shorebird, and is relating aspects of their intertidal
habitat usage at different sites to measures of fattening rates and predation danger. Her analyses
utilize both currently acquired data and historical data available from previous work by the CWS
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ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
and CWE.
MSc student Nathan Hentze continued his project exploring the costs and benefits of high-tide
over-ocean flocking by Dunlin over Boundary Bay. This occurs throughout the winter, largely
during diurnal high tides, and we interpret it as an anti-predator “roosting” tactic. Hentze took
high-speed films of flights, which will be used to parameterize energetic models comparing the
flight costs of over ocean flocking with those of normal flight.
Dov Lank and Yuri Zharikov continued a collaboration with a radio-tracking study of habitat use
by Pacific Dunlin in the Skagit Delta in Washington State, initiated by Gary Slater, from the
Ecostudies Institute and Ruth Milner, Washington Fish and Wildlife. The study borrows
approaches used in the Fraser River delta by earlier CWE students, and involves EC-S&T’s Keith
Hobson, Saskatoon for stable isotope analyses of diets.
Shorebird Breeding Biology:
Lank organized the first field season of a 4-5 year project to support demographic research on nesting shorebirds with respect to environmental factors, near Nome Alaska, together
with collaborator Brett Sandercock, a CWE alumnus who is now a professor at Kansas State
University, funded by NSF and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Several CWE current
graduate students participated in the first year of this study. The site will contribute towards an
arctic-wide collaborative program dubbed the Arctic Shorebird Demographic Network, which
includes a dozen sites in Alaska and arctic Canada utilizing comparable protocols.
Tuamotu Sandpiper Conservation: In partnership with the USF&WS (Rick Lanctot, Alaska
region, Brad Bortner, Chief, Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs, Pacific Region)
and Island Conservation, the CWE is lending its expertise in shorebird biology to support a
conservation project on the highly endangered Tuamotu Sandpiper. The work is supported by the
French Polynesian Regional Division for the Environment (DIREN) and the USF&WS, with
logistical help from a local ornithological NGO (the Society of Polynesian Ornithologists, SOPMANU), and the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, administered by Conservation International.
Once widespread across the South Pacific, this species is now found on only 4 atolls, with a
world population of ca. 1200 individuals. The previous year, Master’s student Marie-Hélène
Burle spent 5 months conducting the first study of the species’ biology on the atoll of Tahanea,
including the transition from the non-breeding to the breeding season. The information on
habitat usage, diet, and social behaviour is being used to support reintroduction planning for the
species onto atolls where rats have or will be removed, and a small removal has been planned for
the summer of 2011. Burle presented her findings at the 2010 SCO-AOU-COS meeting in San
Diego, where she won a best student paper award from the SCO.
C. The Marbled Murrelet Project
SFU’s research on threatened Marbled Murrelets continues to address issues of direct conservation concern for this listed species. Under Lank’s leadership, this ground-breaking and high
profile project examining the biology of the threatened and elusive marbled murrelet continued
for its seventeenth year, addressing new questions of significant management interest for this
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threatened species. Five papers on aspects of habitat usage, classification and the effectiveness of
management approaches were published or submitted with provincial Ministry of Forests and
Range collaborator Louise Waterhouse, and with Alan Burger (UVic) and others.
Graduated MSc student Mike Silvergeiter published two of the three chapters of his MSc thesis,
focusing on stand-level habitat characteristics of nest sites, utilizing data collected in previous
years, including some he gathered while working as an undergraduate. Undergraduate student
Jason van Rooyen submitted a manuscript examining microclimate changes in the canopy along
different kinds of forest edges, looking for effects on epiphyte growth that would affect murrelet
nest platform availability, based on data gathered during graduate student Josh Malt’s MSc
thesis.
Early in April 2011, Lana Cortese is scheduled to complete her Masters in Resource and
Environmental Management thesis relating radar traffic rates to measures of forest size and
configuration. This work was largely funded by the BC Forest Science program. The focus of
ongoing CWE activity on this species was the analysis of the extensive radar traffic rate data sets
which have been gathered in BC to address (1) the utility of several methods of habitat suitability
classification, and (2) the magnitude of fragmentation effects on local breeding population size.
CWE graduate and research technician Jenn Barrett worked closely with Cortese on these
analyses.
Dov Lank continued to serve on the Canadian Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team. The team
became less active as it waited for its recovery strategy to be formally approved; in the mean
time, attention shifted towards implementation though action plans. Lank participated in several
action planning group meetings, which enables the results of the CWE’s research to be rapidly
assimilated into evolving policy guidelines for management of this threatened species, under the
protection of the federal Species at Risk Act and Provincial Identified Wildlife Management
Strategy.
D. Sea Duck Ecology
The sea duck research group, led by Dan Esler, conducts a broad range of studies addressing
factors affecting population dynamics of sea ducks along the Pacific coast. All studies are
collaborative ventures with federal agencies, including the Canadian Wildlife Service, U.S.
Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We also collaborate with numerous
universities and other partners throughout North America.
1. Chronic Effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill on Sea Ducks – This long-term program
continues to evaluate the progress of population recovery of sea ducks (harlequin ducks and
Barrow’s goldeneye) from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. At
this stage, most efforts are directed towards analysis and publication of data collected over the 15
years of the project, and several new papers appeared this year. However, we continue to collect
new data on the degree and duration of oil exposure that sea ducks are experiencing, as recently
as March 2011.
2. Winter and Spring-migration Ecology of Surf and White-winged Scoters – Our research group
has been studying various aspects of scoter winter and migration ecology since 2001. This has
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included specific evaluations of local anthropogenic effects such as shellfish aquaculture, as well
as flyway-wide considerations of factors related to winter site selection and spring migration
strategies. Following completion of field efforts in April 2010, efforts are now focused entirely
on analysis and write-up of findings. CWE MSc candidates Corey VanStratt and Brian UherKoch are leading ongoing work on wintering ecology of surf scoters across their Pacific
wintering distributions (Mexico to Alaska). Corey is focused on variation in foraging behaviour,
while Brian is addressing survival. We also are examining relationships between sea duck
abundance and distribution and underlying habitat features, led by Jenn Barrett.
3. Barrow’s Goldeneye Population Delineation – In collaboration with Sean Boyd of the
Canadian Wildlife Service, we are using satellite telemetry to evaluate population structure,
movements, site fidelity, and habitat use of Barrow’s goldeneyes in western North America.
Goldeneyes have been marked at a breeding site (Riske Creek, BC), 2 wintering sites (Indian
Arm, BC and Prince William Sound, Alaska), and a molt site (Cardinal Lake, Alberta). This work
will have important implications for understanding population level effects of factors at different
annual cycle stages (e.g., oil pollution on coastal wintering areas, changes to interior breeding
areas) and will provide the first insights into migratory connectivity for the species.
4. Barrow’s Goldeneye Wing Moult and Staging in Alberta – As a result, in part, of satellite
telemetry work described above, an important molting and staging site was recently discovered in
northwestern Alberta. In collaboration with Jonathan Thompson of Ducks Unlimited Canada and
Sean Boyd of EC, we are documenting moulting strategies of Barrow’s goldeneyes. Led by MSc
candidate Danica Hogan, this work quantifies body mass variation, feather growth rates, foraging
effort, and survival of goldeneyes through the moult and staging periods, which for males can
constitute up to one-third of their annual cycle. Field work is completed and data analysis and
write-up are underway.
5. Offshore Wind Farms and Effects on Sea Ducks – The CWE has been identified as a collaborator and national lead on research efforts by Environment Canada to evaluate effects of offshore
wind turbine arrays on wintering and migrating sea ducks. To date, the only offshore wind farm
proposed for Canada is in Hecate Strait near Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). Since 2005,
we have laid the groundwork for research in the region by hosting workshops, conducting
extensive literature reviews, interacting with European researchers with experience in this area,
visiting the site to meet with local interests, interacting with the proponent, and collaborating
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct aerial surveys. This year we initiated field
work, using funding from NRCAN, Environment Canada, and the industrial proponent, addressing field studies of trophic interactions and energetics of long-tailed ducks white-winged scoters.
This work is intended to provide perspective on the habitat function of the proposed wind farm
site, including comparisons to other areas within the province. This effort includes CWE
personnel Eric Palm (MSc candidate) and Eric Anderson (Post-doc).
6. Molting Ecology of Pacific Scoters – Thanks to funding and collaboration from the Sea Duck
Joint Venture, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are conducting a project addressing ecology of surf and whitewinged scoters during the wing moult phase of the annual cycle. This work is being conducted in
southeast Alaska and in the Strait of Georgia/Puget Sound, providing a flyway-wide assessment
of wing molt. This work, led by MSc student Rian Dickson, is addressing a variety of basic and
applied questions, including energetics, movements and habitat use, and demography (survival).
CWE Post-doc Eric Anderson is also a PI on the work, and collaborators include Joe Evenson
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(WDFW) and Jerry Hupp (USGS). Field work has been completed, and data analysis and writeup are underway.
E. Ecological physiology
The main aims of CWE's research in ecological physiology are three-fold: 1) to obtain a better
understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying individual and population-level
variation in physiological traits in order to provide a solid basis for predicting how animals might
respond to environmental change, 2) to determine more meaningful intra-specific measures of
body condition, quality and individual health for birds, and 3) to develop and apply new
physiological approaches and techniques to conservation biology and ecotoxicology. We
approach these aims through a combination of studies on basic physiology, often using tractable
model systems (e.g. zebra finches) as well as free-living birds (starlings, western sandpiper),
coupled with more applied, and more specific, goal-orientated projects (e.g. addressing current
ecotoxicological problems). The following projects are on-going in the Williams' lab at present:
1. Plasma metabolites as indicators of physiological state, condition and habitat quality
a) Arrow Lakes Reservoir Neotropical Migrant use of the Drawdown Zone: use of physiological indicators for assessment of habitat quality. We completed year 3 of this collaborative
BC Hydro-funded project (with John Cooper, Manning Beauschene and Associates Ltd., and
David Green, and Dominique Wagner MSc student) using physiological assessment of fattening
rates and condition (plasma metabolites, corticosterone) to determine effects of reservoir water
management strategies, on four species of neo-tropical migrants (Common Yellowthroat, Yellow
Warbler, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler). Physiological data will be combined
with banding station data and information of feather stable isotopes to determine effects on
‘local’ versus migratory birds.
2. Ecotoxicology projects
a) Anthropogenic maternal effects: long-term effects of early (in ovo or natal) exposure to
xenobiotics in birds. Early life stages in birds are sensitive to environmental conditions, and
factors such as hormones and pollutants can have permanent effects on the resulting phenotypes
at concentrations much lower than those required to affect adults. The level of in ovo and posthatch exposure to hormones and xenobiotic contaminants can be influenced by the mother,
potentially resulting in maternal effects (non-genetic modifications of offspring phenotype caused
by the conditions provided by the mother during development). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs) are a class of brominated flame retardants that have become ubiquitous in the environment, yet their long-term effects on avian wildlife are poorly understood. We are using a
combination of captive (Zebra finch) and wild (European starling) studies to 1) investigate the
long term effects on avian development of early exposure to environmentally relevant, sublethal
levels of PBDEs, 2) determine what factors affect the relationship between PBDE concentrations
in the eggs and mothers, 3) determine if the pattern of transfer from mother to egg differs
between hormones and contaminants, and if hormone transfer is affected by contaminants, 4)
measure levels of contaminants and hormones in avian wildlife, and 5) investigate the long term
effects of early exposure to contaminants in a free-living species. This project is funded by EC’s
Chemical Management Plan, in collaboration with Drs. John Elliott (S & T), Drs. Rob Letcher
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and Tony Scheuhammer (NWRC) and Dr. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton (UWO). In 2010 we
had three students working on different aspects of this project: Margaret Eng (PhD) conducted
lab work with zebra finches and initiated field studies with starlings using BDE-99; Viktoria
Khamzina (MET) developed and validated methods for in ovo exposure to BDE-99, and Heidi
Scherr (new PhD) initiated work on molecular action and physiological effects of a new priority
chemical (TBECH).
b) Surveillance and monitoring of CMP priority compounds in key bio-indicator species. In
2008 EC selected the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) as the “terrestrial” indicator species to
monitor new contaminants in biota to provide early warning support to ongoing risk assessment
(under the Chemical Management Plan). Nest box ‘trails’ (25 boxes/site) have been established in
four urban centers (Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver). Lower Mainland sites include the
Delta landfill, Burnaby/Surrey, Abbotsford and our new study site at Langley. Nest boxes will be
checked daily throughout the breeding season (April – June) to monitor timing of breeding and
obtain data on egg and clutch size. Eggs were collected from all locations in 2010 and measured
for contaminant concentrations at the NWRC laboratories, Ottawa. Project leader Dr. Laird Shutt
(NWRC) and Dr. John Elliott.
c) Relationship between foraging, diet and potential for contaminant exposure in the
Glaucous-winged gull. Mikaela Davis (MSc) completed a second field season investigating
Glaucous-winged gull diets across three historically-used breeding colonies off the coast of
Vancouver Island, and compare findings with those of similar studies conducted 27-37 years ago.
We hope to determine if there is an emphasis on marine or terrestrial food items and further
demonstrate whether the diet and trophic level are reflective of a high level trophic predator in
the local marine environment. Results from the project are necessary to interpret contaminant
monitoring data and assess whether the Glaucous-winged gull is a feasible monitoring species for
marine contaminants on the Canadian West coast.
3. Reproductive ecology and physiology
Raime Fronstin (PhD) completed a second field season for his PhD study on causes and
consequences of reproductive anemia in European starlings. We now have 9 years of data at this
study site and TDW collated these long-term data to look at breeding phenology and reproductive
performance in the context of climate change, prey availability, and agricultural usage (in
collaboration with Dr Marcel Visser, NIOO, The Netherlands). We continued with two studies
integrating physiology, foraging, oceanographic conditions and climate change in seabirds
(penguins, albatross, and petrels), one on the Antarctic Peninsula (Kristen Gorman, PhD, in
collaboration with Dr. Bill Fraser, Polar Oceans Research Group, MT, USA) and one at Bird
Island, South Georgia (Glenn Crossin, post-doctoral fellow, in collaboration with the British
Antarctic Survey). Crossin and Mark Hipfner conducted a study in Cassin’s auklets integrating
physiological analysis to investigate carry-over effects between breeding and wintering phases.
F. Population ecology of landbirds
CWE’s research on landbirds is coordinated by David Green and addresses two key questions in
avian ecology and conservation. Firstly, we are interested in how migratory strategies of
individual birds influences their fitness and the demography of populations. This question is
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CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
currently being assessed by examining how winter habitat use and migration distance influence
the life history and demography of yellow warblers that over-winter in Mexico and breed in
Revelstoke, B.C. and Inuvik, N.W.T. Secondly, we are interested in how anthropogenic changes
to the landscape influence habitat selection, breeding performance and survival of threatened or
declining landbirds in British Columbia. Current projects with this focus include a study
examining how water use decisions by BC Hydro influence the breeding performance and
survival of Yellow warblers in riparian habitat, a study examining how changes in agricultural
practices in the Fraser Valley influence the foraging ecology productivity and survival of barn
owls, a study examining how grazing induced changes to grasslands influences productivity of
Vespers sparrow, and a study evaluating hypotheses for the decline of whip-poor-wills in
Ontario. We briefly describe these studies below:
Migratory behaviour and reproduction in Yellow warblers
We have monitored the arrival date, breeding phenology and reproductive success of
Yellow warblers breeding in Revelstoke, B.C., since 2004 and in Inuvik, N.W.T. since 2009.
Previous work using stable isotope signatures in feathers indicates that individuals breeding in
BC and between Alaska and the NWT overwinter along the Pacific and Gulf coasts of Mexico
(Boulet et al. 2006). Michalea Martin (MSc candidate) is evaluating how migration distance
influences the life history of the broadly distributed species by comparing the reproduction and
survival of our study populations that migrate approximately 4000 and 6000 kms respectively.
Anna Drake (PhD candidate) monitors the breeding population in Inuvik and has also initiated
monitoring of winter habitat use of Yellow warblers in Mexico. She is examining how winter
habitat use influences the arrival dates and subsequent reproductive success of birds that return to
their breeding grounds in Revelstoke and Inuvik, NWT. Logistic support for this work is
provided by CWS (Pacific and Yukon Region and Prairie and Northern Region) and the work is
conducted in collaboration with Dr. Elsie Krebs (EC Wildlife Division). Preliminary data
indicates that there is a sex bias in the distribution of birds among winter habitats with older
males being more common in riparian habitat and females and younger birds being more
common in coastal scrub/seasonally flooded mangrove habitat. Carbon signatures of winter
grown feathers that reflect winter habitat use are correlated with the onset of breeding (first egg
dates) of yearling, but not older females, in Revelstoke but not correlated with the onset of
breeding of yearling or older females in Inuvik. This suggests that carryover effects of winter
habitat use on individual breeding performance do not have a consistent effect on the population
dynamics of Yellow warblers on the western flyway. Future analysis will focus on the potential
for carryover effects that operate at the level of populations rather than individuals.
Water use decisions and the demography of a riparian dependant songbird
Human activities have caused a dramatic loss in the amount of riparian habitat in North
America and this habitat loss is linked to population declines of many riparian dependant
songbirds. We have shown that riparian habitat impacted by reservoir operations on the
Columbia River do not function as an ecological trap for yellow warblers, a species identified by
Partners in Flight as a focal species for riparian habitat. Yellow warblers prefer territories with
more riparian shrub/tree habitat and build nests at sites with more willow stems; these habitat
selection decisions increase annual productivity (Quinlan and Green 2012). Christine Rock, who
defended her MSc in Spring 2011, examined how cowbird parasitism influences productivity and
survival of yearling and older females. Future work will use our estimates of productivity and
survival to examine how reservoir operations that flood 0-18% of nests in any given year
influence the population dynamics of Yellow warblers.
Page 14
ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
Impacts of changing agricultural land use on the distribution and breeding performance of barn
owls
Land used for agriculture provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife. However, the
intensification of agricultural practises, increased use of pesticides and encroachment of urban
centres have been linked to the widespread decline of many species associated with agricultural
land in Europe. Sofi Hindmarch, who defended her MSc in Fall 2009) investigated how land use
patterns influence the distribution and productivity of barn owls. She found that the most
important factor influencing change in barn occupancy since the 1990’s and current barn
occupancy is traffic volume and the length of major highway in the 3km2 surrounding a barn.
However, the major factor influencing the productivity of barn owls was the amount of urban
development surrounding breeding sites. She, along with Elsie Krebs (EC Wildlife Division and
John Elliott Toxicology Division), is preparing this work for publication in Landscape and Urban
Planning and Condor.
Impacts of grazing induced changes to rangeland on grassland birds.
Native grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the province and cattle
have been shown to have a profound impact on the vegetation community. This may have
significant impacts on the bird community; 60% of bird species native to North American
rangelands have declining population trends. We conducted a research project, in collaboration
with Nancy Mahony (EC Wildlife Division), to assess how grazing induced changes to rangeland
influences habitat use and productivity of grassland birds. We found that grazing results in
changes in the structure and composition of grasslands in the in the Chilcotin –Cariboo but that
grazing-induced changes to the vegetation had both positive (less bare ground) and negative
effects (shorter vegetation) on the abundance of Vespers sparrow and western meadowlark such
that the overall abundance of these species did not differ in grazed and ungrazed sites (Harrison
et al. 2010). Similarly, grazing induced changes to the vegetation had both positive (increased
cover of species promoted by grazing) and negative effects (shorter vegetation) on nest survival
of Vespers sparrows (Harrison et al. 2011) such that productivity did not differ in grazed and
ungrazed sites. We also examined how grazing influenced vegetation and the avifauna in Douglas
fir forest of the Cariboo Chilcotin. We found that grazing reduced ground vegetation height and
reduced grass cover but led to increased numbers of shrub cover and saplings, but these changes
had few impacts on the bird community (Whitehorne et al. 2011). Overall, this project suggests
that rangeland can sustain grazing of the intensity currently observed in the Cariboo-Chilcotin
since this level of grazing has limited impact on birds of the intermountain region of BC.
The role of diet, land use change on breeding grounds and wintering location in population
declines of eastern whip-poor-wills
Populations of aerial insectivores in eastern North America are argued to be declining at a
faster rate than populations of other avian guilds. Philina English, a PhD candidate co-supervised
by Dr Joe Nocera (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources), is initiating a project to investigate
hypotheses for population declines in eastern whip-poor-wills in Ontario. She will combine data
on whip-poor-will distributions collected for the first and second Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas,
land use classification data for the 1980’s and 2000’s, and habitat specific insect abundance data
to evaluate whether changes to land use and prey abundance on breeding grounds can explain
changes in the distribution of whip-poor-wills. Philina, in collaboration with Dr Joe Nocera and
Dr Mike Cadman (CWS) will also attach light-logging geolocators to whip-poor-will breeding at
three sites, (QUBS in the Frontenac arch, Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve in the southern
page 15
CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
Muskoka, and Long Point on Lake Erie) to determine the wintering location, migration phenology and migration routes of eastern whip-poor-wills. This information is critical to evaluating
the importance of wintering location and migration in explaining population declines.
VI FUNDING
Budget
In March 2010 Simon Fraser University (the Centre for Wildlife Ecology) and Environment
Canada (Science and Technology Division) finalized a contract for a four year funding agreement; the funding period was from April 2009 to March 2013. This Contribution Agreement
provides $200,000 annually as core support for the research activities of the Centre for Wildlife
Ecology.
The chart has been revised from the format of previous years to compare revenue projections
(formulated for this agreement) to actual revenue from Environment Canada, SFU and other
industrial, provincial, federal and international sectors.
Page 16
2010/2011 Annual Report
CWS Centre for Wildlife Ecology Fiscal Funding Sources
Simon Fraser University
$600,000
$500,000
$400,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
$0
EC/Core
Other EC
Other Fed Gov't
Prov Gov't
NSERC
Industry
SFU Faculty
SFU Other
Int'l (Cdn$)
Other
Grand Total
169,722
353,629
122,940
406,812
85,350
167,865
40,109
1,745,887
32,186
282,974
0
420,655
66,389
114,189
85,351
1,484,085
Projections
200,000
2009/2010
200,000
199,460
200,000
2010/2011
300,000
182,340
2011/2012
200,000
200,000
2012/2013
200,000
200,000
0
Category for
Chart
Centre for Wildlife Ecology Annual Financial Report
1 April 2010 - 31 March 2011
Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants for
Students
PhD
Samantha Franks, Holly Middleton, Anna
Drake
Lindsay Farrell - Partial Supervisory Stipend
DL; Aboriginal Student Leader Award; Russel
First Nations Graduate Scholarship
NSERC
SFU Fellowships etc
SFU Fellowships etc
SFU Fellowships etc
International
Provincial
Canadian Bureau
for International
Education
SFU Fellowships etc
SFU Fellowships etc
SFU Fellowships etc
SFU Fellowships etc
NSERC
Leah Bendell
$91,000
$12,300
Birgit Schwarz - Dept of Biological Sciences TA
Kristin Gorman - GF and PRS
Birgit Schwarz - Daimler Benz Foundation
Birgit Schwarz - Pacific Century Graduate
Scholarship; Lindsay Farrell - NAAF De Beers
Canada Northern Ontario Bursary Award
$6,459
$12,250
$7,020
$3,850
Who-Seung Lee
$36,500
M Sc
Danica Hogan - Graduate Entrance
Scholarship
Rian Dickson - GF
Calen Ryan - PPD
Toby St Clair, Elly Knight, Mikaela Davis - TA
$6,250
$4,500
$18,630
Rian Dickson, Calen Ryan, Willow English
Toby St Clair
$42,514
$6,500
$6,000
General Funding for CWE
EC/Core
SFU
SFU
EC Annual Chair Funding (2nd of 4 yrs)
$300,000
SFU Contribution to Faculty Salaries
(Ydenberg Williams Green)
$420,655
Generated Research Funding
Other EC
Esler D
International
Esler D
Ducks
Science Horizon - postbreeding Biology of
Barrow's Goldeneyes
US Fish & Wildlife: Sea Duck Joint Venture Population Delineation and wintering ecology
of Surf Scoters in SE Alaska( 1st of 3 years)
$12,000
$12,120
ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
International
Esler D
US Fish & Wildlife: Sea Duck Joint Venture Molting ecology of Surf and White-winged
Scoters in SE Alaska
$12,120
International
Esler D
US Fish & Wildlife: Sea Duck Joint Venture Refining marine contaminants studies of
Pacific scoters: integrating analyses of
distributions, diet and condition
$25,133
Esler D /
Dickson R
Ducks Unlimited
$17,000
Esler D
Wind Farms
$82,000
Other
Other EC
Land Birds
Provincial
Green DJ
BC Hydro/ Cooper Beauchesne and
Associates Ltd.
$28,336
Drake A
Northern Scientific Training Project
$4,044
M. Pennel
Northern Scientific Training Project
$2,738
Other
Other
Triangle Island
Other EC
Hipfner MJ
Environment Canada - Stage
$25,000
Other
Hipfner MJ
Migratory Birds
$10,000
Other EC
Hipfner MJ
EC Protected Areas
$15,000
Physiological Ecology
Other EC
Williams TD
Development and validation of an integrated
avian laboratory and field model system using
Zebra Finch and Starling (2nd of 4 years)
$18,340
Other EC
Williams TD
$30,000
Other
Williams TD
Investigate the effects of mixtures of
environmentally relevant substances in the
Fraser River Valley ecosystem on early
developmental processes in wild birds
Canada Summer Jobs
International
Williams TD
Polar Oceans Research Groups (NSF-LTER)
- Climate-dependent changes in penguin
population biology, physiology and nutrition
(4th of 4 years)
$10,200
$2,240
page 19
CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
International
Williams TD
/ Crossin G
Antarctic Science
$7,452
Western Sandpipers
Other
S. Franks
Northern Scientific Training Program
$2,655
Other
N. Hentze
Northern Scientific Training Program
$3,309
Other
W. English
Northern Scientific Training Programt
International
Lank D /
Ydenberg
RC
International
Lank D /
Ydenberg
RC
NSERC
Green DJ
NSERC
Ydenberg
RC
NSERC Individual Research Grant "Predation danger and the annual cycle of
migrants (1st of 5 yrs)
$50,000
NSERC
Lank D
NSERC Individual Research Grant RGPIN171290-2008 (3rd of 5 years)
$25,610
NSERC
Williams TD
NSERC Individual Research GrantRGPIN/155395-200
$44,850
Tuamotu Sandpiper Conservation
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
$19,745
US Fish & Wildlife Service
$20,400
NSERC
NSERC Individual Research Grant - Dispersal
and migration behaviour of birds in natural
and modified landscapes (2nd of 5 years)
Grand Total
SFU In-Kind
Page 20
$365
$29,000
$1,484,085
$116,678
ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
VII. PUBLICATIONS
This list reflects those publications produced since our last report (publications that were “in
press” or “submitted” for the last report are included and have been updated). We continue to
publish very actively with 10 publications out in 2011 through March, 11 publications in press
and 11 submitted. Over the past year one MSc student and one PhD student supervised by CWE
faculty successfully defended their theses. Most of our publications relate to the research carried
out in the main CWE programs and most refer to work carried out in the Pacific Northwest. We
are however interacting with scientists throughout Canada and beyond and some of our publications reflect this.
A. Papers in Refereed Journals or Books
In press:
Anderson, E.M. and J.R. Lovvorn. In press. Contrasts in energy status and marine foraging
strategies of White-winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca) and Surf Scoters (M. perspicillata).
Auk.
Burger, A.E., I.A. Manley, M. Silvergieter, D.B. Lank, K.M. Jordan, T.D. Bloxton and M.G.
Raphael. In press. Re-use of nest sites by Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in British Columbia. Northw. Natur.
Draheim, H.M., P. Baird and S.M. Haig. In press. Temporal analysis of mtDNA variation reveals
decreased genetic diversity in Least Terns. Condor.
Green, D.J., K.B. Loukes, M.W. Pennell, J. Jarvis and W.E. Easton. In press. Do reservoir water
levels influence daily mass gain of wood warblers at a riparian stopover site in British Columbia, Canada? J. Field Ornithol.
Lank, D.B. In press. Book Review: Shorebird Ecology, Conservation, and Management, by
M.A. Colwell. Berkeley: University of California Press, 344 pp. Condor.
Love, O.P. and T.D. Williams. In press. Manipulation of developmental stress reveals sexspecific effects of egg size on offspring phenotype. J. Evol. Biol.
Mulcahy, D.M. and D. Esler. In press. Survival of captive and free-ranging harlequin ducks
(Histrionicus histrionicus) following surgical liver biopsy. J. Wildl. Diseases.
Silvergieter, M.P. and D.B. Lank. In press. Marbled Murrelets select distinctive nest trees within
old growth forest patches. Avian Cons.Ecol.
Silvergieter, M.P. and D.B. Lank. In press. Patch scale nest-site selection by Marbled Murrelets
(Brachyramphus marmoratus). Avian Cons.Ecol.
Takekawa, J.Y., S.W. De La Cruz, M.T. Wilson, E.C. Palm, J. Yee, D.R. Nyeswander, J.R.
Evenson, J.M. Eadie, D. Esler, W.S. Boyd and D.H. Ward. In press. Breeding synchrony,
sympatry, and nesting areas of Pacific coast surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) in the
northern boreal forest. Studies in Avian Biology.
Wilson, J.W., R.M. Wanless, M.-H. Burle, A. Angel, P. Kritzinger and B. Stead. In press.
Breeding biology of Brown Noddies Anous stolidus at their southern-most breeding site,
Gough Island, in comparison to other sites. Ardea.
2011
Bond, A.L., I.L. Jones, H.L. Major, S. Minobe, J.C. Williams and G.V. Byrd. 2011. The
influence of ocean climate on reproductive performance of auklets (Aethia spp.) at three
Aleutian Island breeding sites. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 424: 205-218.
Borstad, G., W. Crawford, J.M. Hipfner, R. Thompson and K.D. Hyatt. 2011. Enviromental
control of the breeding success of rhinoceros auklets at Triangle Island, British Columbia.
Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 424: 285-302.
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CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
Esler, D., B.E. Ballachey, K.A. Trust, S.A. Iverson, J.A. Reed, A.K. Miles, J.D. Henderson, B.W.
Wilson, B.R. Woodin, J.R. Stegeman, M. McAdie and D.M. Mulcahy. 2011. Cytochrome
P4501A biomarker indication of the timeline of chronic exposure of Barrow's goldeneye
to residual Exxon Valdez oil. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 62: 609-614.
Harrison, M.L., N.A. Mahony, P. Robinson, A. Newbury and D.J. Green. 2011. Nest-site
selection and productivity of Vesper Sparrows breeding in grazed habitats. J. Field Ornithol. 82: 140-149.
Hipfner, J.M., K.A. Hobson and J.E. Elliott. 2011. Ecological factors differentially affect
mercury levels in two species of sympatric marine birds of the North Pacific. Sci. Total
Environ. 409: 1328-1335.
Hipfner, J.M., K.W. Morrison and R. Darvill. 2011. Peregrine Falcons enable two species of
colonial seabirds to breed successfully by excluding other raptors. Waterbirds 34: 82-88.
Jaatinen, K., J. Lehtonen and H. Kokko. 2011. Strategy selection under conspecific brood
parasitism: an integrative modeling approach. Behav. Ecol. 22:144–155: 144-155.
Jonker, R., M. Kuiper, L. Snijders, S. van Wieren, H.H.T. Prins and R. Ydenberg. 2011.
Divergence in timing of parental care and migration in Barnacle geese. Behav. Ecol. 22:
326-331.
Lok, E.K., D. Esler, J.Y. Takekawa, S.W. De La Cruz, W.S. Boyd, D.R. Nyeswander, J.R.
Evenson and D.H. Ward. 2011. Stopover habitats of spring migrating surf scoters in
southeast Alaska. J. Wildl. Manage. 75: 92-100.
Quinlan, S.P. and D.J. Green. 2011. Variation in deuterium ( D) signatures of Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia feathers grown on breeding and wintering grounds. J. Ornithol. 152:
93-101.
2010
Agüero, M.L., P.G. Borboroglu and D. Esler. 2010. Breeding habitat attributes and nest site
selection of Chubut steamerducks in Patagonia, Argentina. Emu 110: 302-306.
Blight, L.K., D.F. Bertram, T.D. Williams and L. Cowen. 2010. Interannual variation in egg
neglect and incubation routine of the rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) during
the 1998/1999 El Nino/La Nina event. Marine Ornithol. 38: 11-15.
Burger, A.E., R.A. Ronconi, M.P. Silvergieter, C. Conroy, V. Bahn, I.A. Manley, A. Cober and
D.B. Lank. 2010. Factors affecting the availability of thick epiphyte mats and other potential nest platforms for Marbled Murrelets in British Columbia. Can. J. For. Res. 40: 727746.
Cesh, L.S., K.H. Elliott, S. Quade, M.A. McKinney, F. Maisoneuve, D.K. Garcelon, C.D.
Sandau, R.J. Letcher, T.D. Williams and J.E. Elliott. 2010. PCBs, p,p'-DDT, PBDEs, and
metabolites in relation to circulating thyroid hormone and retinol in nestling Bald Eagles
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Env.Tox. Chem. 29: 1301-1310.
Crossin, G.T., P.N. Trathan, R.A. Phillips, A. Dawson, F. Le Bouard and T.D. Williams. 2010. A
carry-over effect of migration underlies individual variation in reproductive readiness and
extreme egg-size dimorphism in macaroni penguins. Amer. Nat. 176: 357-366.
Draheim, H.M., M.P. Miller, P. Baird and S.M. Haig. 2010. Subspecific status and population
genetic structure of Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) inferred by mitochondrial DNA
control-region sequences and microsatellite DNA. Auk 127: 807-819.
Esler, D. and S.A. Iverson. 2010. Female harlequin duck winter survival 11 to 14 years after the
Exxon Valdez oil spill. J. Wildl. Manage. 74: 471-478.
Esler, D., K.A. Trust, B.E. Ballachey, S.A. Iverson, T.L. Lewis, D.J. Rizzolo, D.M. Mulcahy,
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ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
A.K. Miles, B.R. Woodin, J.J. Stegeman, J.D. Henderson and W. B.W. 2010. Cytochrome
P4501A biomarker indication of oil exposure in harlequin ducks up to 20 years after the
Exxon Valdez oil spill. Env.Tox. Chem. 29: 1138-1145.
Federer, R., T. Hollmén, D. Esler, M.J. Wooller and S.W. Wang. 2010. Stable carbon and
nitrogen isotope discrimination factors from diet to blood plasma, cellular blood, feathers,
and adipose fatty acids in Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri). Can. J. Zool. 88: 866874.
Gorman, K.B., E.S. Erdmann, B.C. Pickering, P.J. Horne, J.R. Blum, H.M. Lucas, D.L. Patterson-Fraser and W.R. Fraser. 2010. A new high latitude record for the macaroni penguin
(Eudyptes chrysolophus) at Avian Island, Antarctica. Polar Biology 33: 1155-1158.
Harrison, M.L., N.A. Mahony, P. Robinson, A. Newbury and D.J. Green. 2010. Vesper sparrows
and western meadowlarks show a mixed response to cattle grazing in the intermountain
region of British Columbia. Avian Cons. Ecol. 5: 1. [online] URL: http://www.aceeco.org/vol5/iss1/art1/.
Heath, J.P., G. Gilchrist and R.C. Ydenberg. 2010. Interactions between rate processes with
different time scales explain counterintuitive foraging patterns of arctic wintering eiders.
Proc. Roy. Soc. B 277: 3179-3186.
Hipfner, J.M., J. Dale and K.J. McGraw. 2010. Yolk carotenoid and stable isotopes reveal links
among environment, foraging behavior and seabird breeding success. Oecologia 163:
351-360.
Hipfner, J.M., K.B. Gorman, R.A. Vos and J.B. Joy. 2010. Evolution of the embryonic developmental period in the marine bird families Alcidae and Spheniscidae: roles for nutrition
and predation? BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: 179.
Hipfner, J.M., M.J.F. Lemon and M.S. Rodway. 2010. Introduced mammals, vegetation changes,
and seabird conservation on the Scott Islands, British Columbia. Bird Conserv. Internat.
20: 295-305.
Iverson, S.A. and D. Esler. 2010. Harlequin duck population injury and recovery dynamics
following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Ecol. Appl. 20: 1993-2006.
Jaatinen, K., A. Lehikoinen and D.B. Lank. 2010. Female-biased sex ratios and the proportion of
cryptic male morphs of migrant juvenile ruffs (Philomachus pugnax) in Finland. Orn.
Fenn. 87: 125-134.
Kurvers, R.H.J.M., K. van Oers, B.A. Nolet, R.M. Jonker, S.E. van Wieren, H.H.T. Prins and
R.C. Ydenberg. 2010. Personality predicts the use of social information. Ecol. Letters:
DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01473.x.
Mather, M., T. Chatwin, J. Cragg, L. Sinclair and D.F. Bertram. 2010. Marbled Murrelet Nesting
Habitat Suitability Model for the British Columbia Coast. BC Journal of Ecosystems and
Management 11: 91–102.
Mathot, K.J., D.R. Lund and R.W. Elner. 2010. Sediment in stomach contents of Western
Sandpipers and Dunlin provide evidence of biofilm feeding. Waterbirds 33: 300-306.
Ricca, M.A., A.K. Miles, B.E. Ballachey, J.L. Bodkin, D. Esler and K.A. Trust. 2010. PCB
exposure in sea otters and harlequin ducks in relation to history of contamination by the
Exxon Valdez oil spill. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 60: 861-872.
Salvante, K.G., F. Vézina and T.D. Williams. 2010. Evidence for within-individual energy
reallocation in cold-challenged, egg-producing birds. J. Exp. Biol. 213: 1991-2000.
Scherr, H., J. Bowman and K.F. Abraham. 2010. Migration and winter movements of Doublecrested Cormorants breeding in Georgian Bay, Ontario. Waterbirds 33: 451-460.
Sheehy, J., C.M. Taylor, K.S. McCann and D.R. Norris. 2010. Optimal conservation of migratory
animals: integrating demographic information across seasons. Conservation Letters 3:
192-202.
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CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
Stoskopf, M., D.M. Mulcahy and D. Esler. 2010. Evaluation of a portable automated serum
chemistry analyzer for field assessment of harlequin ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus. Vet.
Med. Internal. 2010: Article ID 418596, 5 pages.
Taylor, C.M. and D.R. Norris. 2010. Population dynamics of migratory networks. Theoretical
Ecology 3: 65-73.
Travers, M., M.L. Clinchy, R. Boonstra, L. Zanette and T.D. Williams. 2010. Indirect predator
effects on clutch size and the cost of egg production. Ecol. Letters 13: 980-988.
Whitehorne, I. 2010. Physiology and Site Fidelity in a Partial Migrant, the American Dipper
(Cinclus mexicanus). Waterbirds 33: 461-470.
Wilson, J.W., M.-H. Burle, R. Cuthbert, R.L. Stirnemann and P.G. Ryan. 2010. Breeding success
in Northern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes moseleyi) at Gough Island, South Atlantic
Ocean. Emu 110: 137-141.
Ydenberg, R. and W.E. Davies. 2010. Resource geometry and provisioning routines. Behav.
Ecol. 21: 1170-1178.
Submitted:
Agüero, M.L., P.G. Borboroglu and D. Esler. Submitted. Distribution and abundance of Chubut
steamerducks: an endemic species to central Patagonia, Argentina. Bird Conserv. Internat.
Anderson, E.M., D. Esler, W.S. Boyd, J.R. Evenson, D.R. Nysewander, D.H. Ward, R.D.
Dickson, B. Uher-Koch, C.S. VanStratt and J.W. Hupp. Submitted. A preliminary assessment of the predator seascape for scoters: predation rates, timing, and predator composition. Can. J. Zool.
Dietrich, M., F. Kempf, E. Gómez-Díaz, A.S. Kitaysky, J.M. Hipfner, T. Boulinier and K.D.
McCoy. Submitted. Inter-ocean variation in patterns of host-associated divergence in a
seabird ectoparasite. Heredity.
Fairhurst, E.N., E.A. Krebs, E.A. Gillis and D.J. Green. Submitted. Begging to be heard:
Signaling in an acoustically noisy environment. Beh. Ecol. Sociobiol.
Green DJ, W.I., Middleton HA, and Morrissey CA. Submitted. Do American dippers obtain a
survival benefit from altitudinal migration? Oikos.
Guillaumet, A., B. Dorr, G. Wang, J. Taylor, R. Chipman, H. Scherr, J. Bowman, K. Abraham, T.
Doyle and E. Cranker. Submitted. Individual and population-level strategies in local and
migratory movements of Great Lakes double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus).
Behav. Ecol.
Hindmarch, S., E.A. Krebs and D.J. Green. Submitted. Land use predicts the persistence and
distribution of barn owls in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. Landscape Ecol.
Hogan, D., J.E. Thompson, D. Esler and W.S. Boyd. Submitted. Discovery of important
postbreeding sites for Barrow's Goldeneye in the boreal transition zone of Alberta. Waterbirds.
Major, H.L., R.T. Buxton and I.L. Jones. Submitted. Variability in colony attendance decisions
by a colonial seabird. J. Zool., Lond.
Major, H.L. and I.L. Jones. Submitted. An experimental study of the use of social information by
nocturnal burrow-nesting seabird prospectors. Condor.
van Rooyen, J., J.M. Malt and D.B. Lank. Submitted. Relating microclimate to bryophyte
abundance: edge effects on nesting habitat availability for the marbled murrelet. Northwest Science.
B. Other Publications
Baird, P. 2011. Multinational Study of Neotropical Migrants: the western sandpiper as a Model
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ANNUAL REPORT #15 – APRIL 2011
2004-2008. Report to: Department of Defence. Project # 03-199 to 07-199. pp.
Baird, P. 2010. Foraging study of California Least Terns in San Diego Bay and Near ocean
Waters, San Diego, California, 2009. Report to: U.S. NAVFACENGCOM. 91 pp.
C. Theses
Major, H.L. 2011. Prospecting decisions and habitat selection by a nocturnal burrow-nesting
seabird. PhD, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby. pp.
Rock, C. 2011. Brood parasitism, reproductive success, and survival in Yellow Warblers. MSc,
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby. pp.
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